BdM Bank: Patuelli, ‘We saved it, but now the money goes to the State’

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - ‘There was a bank called Popolare di Bari, which was bailed out by its rival banks – and therefore by its shareholders – to the tune of 1.1 billion. Then it ended up in the hands of the State. First we had to pay to save it, and then the State became the owner.

‘Now the State has decided to sell it, but who will get the money from the sale?’ This was the rhetorical question posed by the president of the Italian Banking Association (ABI), Antonio Patuelli. “We were the ones who saved Banca Popolare di Bari,” he reiterated. “The proceeds from the sale of Banca Popolare di Bari – now known as Banca del Mezzogiorno – must also be added to the contributions we make to the State.”

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